Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/04/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]For an interesting take on Turing and other ideas, see "Shadow's of the Mind" and "The Emperor's New Mind" by Roger Penrose. Cheers, G. On 4 Apr 2001, at 20:59, Johnny Deadman wrote: > on 4/4/01 7:39 PM, Simon Stevens at simon@camera-craftsman.com wrote: > > > What is a "Turing Machine"? I know who Alan Turing was and Ive heard > > of the Turing test (and sometimes I'm convinced that's what the LUG > > is), but I haven't heard this term before. > > A Turing machine is a kind of theoretical computer that reads digital > data, performs a particular set of operations on them, and outputs > digital data. > > The point about a Turing machine is that given a certain minimum set > of operations the machine is capable of performing, a Turing machine > is capable of carrying out any intellectual task we know an algorithm > for. This is important because it shows we don't need more and more > powerful computers to solve more and more difficult problems. The most > basic Turing machine imaginable is quite capable of solving the most > difficult problem imaginable *given enough time*. EG a sinclair > spectrum could have passed the Turing test, given that we knew how to > program *any* computer to pass the test. > > There is a lot about Turing machines in Hofstadter and Bennet's GODEL, > ESCHER, BACH, which is one of those books everyone should read at > least twice... > > My analogy was that Photoshop is capable of carrying out any graphical > manipulation task you throw at it, *given that you know how to do it!* > -- Johnny Deadman > > http://www.pinkheadedbug.com > >